Anencephaly

I have recently come across two Facebook pages created by moms whose babies were diagnosed with Anencephaly early in pregnancy. They documented their journeys on FB. I had not heard of this condition but it is fatal usually within minutes, hours or days of birth, depending on the severity and how much of the brain/stem had developed.

Both of these women decided not to abort and to hope they would have even a few moments with their child before he/she passed. One woman (Loving London on FB) was not supposed to be able to conceive, and had Lyme disease on top of it. Her son died within two hours of delivery i believe, and she was able to spend time with him when she woke from surgery. The other (Prayers for Madilynn) gave birth a little over a week ago and her daughter is still alive.

Sometimes it isn't diagnosed until later in pregnancy or at birth.

What would you do in this situation? Would you deliver and spend what time you could with your child or abort when you found out?

I'm a firm believer that people find miraculous strength in situations when they need it most. But in reading these ladies' stories, I just don't know how I could possibly stay in one piece after an experience like this.

Link to CDC on anencephaly:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/Anencephaly.html

I have recently come across two Facebook pages created by moms whose babies were diagnosed with Anencephaly early in pregnancy. They documented their journeys on FB. I had not heard of this condition but it is fatal usually within minutes, hours or days of birth, depending on the severity and how much of the brain/stem had developed.

Both of these women decided not to abort and to hope they would have even a few moments with their child before he/she passed. One woman (Loving London on FB) was not supposed to be able to conceive, and had Lyme disease on top of it. Her son died within two hours of delivery i believe, and she was able to spend time with him when she woke from surgery. The other (Prayers for Madilynn) gave birth a little over a week ago and her daughter is still alive.

Sometimes it isn't diagnosed until later in pregnancy or at birth.

What would you do in this situation? Would you deliver and spend what time you could with your child or abort when you found out?

I'm a firm believer that people find miraculous strength in situations when they need it most. But in reading these ladies' stories, I just don't know how I could possibly stay in one piece after an experience like this.

I would abort without question. I'm sorry but it makes no sense to me why I would spend hours going to prenatal visits, having to go through labor and end up spending lots of money on medical bills for a baby who will certainly die very soon.

I would abort without question. I'm sorry but it makes no sense to me why I would spend hours going to prenatal visits, having to go through labor and end up spending lots of money on medical bills for a baby who will certainly die very soon.

There was a woman on my home board whose daughter was diagnosed with this as well as trisomy 18. Our daughter was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome. Obviously DS is nothing compared to the other 2, but she and I chatted a lot simply because we could relate to having chromosomal related complications. She didn't abort. She said as long as her girl was fighting she would fight as well. Her daughter died in-utero at just over 6 months. Afterwards she said she could completely understand why some people would choose to end it early. It would allow them to grieve and heal right away as opposed to waiting for the inevitable. I imagine myself in her shoes, after my own complications and my daughter's diagnosis, and I think I would terminate. I would not have the strength it would require to continue a pregnancy that would result in the death of my newborn.

There was a woman on my home board whose daughter was diagnosed with this as well as trisomy 18. Our daughter was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome. Obviously DS is nothing compared to the other 2, but she and I chatted a lot simply because we could relate to having chromosomal related complications. She didn't abort. She said as long as her girl was fighting she would fight as well. Her daughter died in-utero at just over 6 months. Afterwards she said she could completely understand why some people would choose to end it early. It would allow them to grieve and heal right away as opposed to waiting for the inevitable. I imagine myself in her shoes, after my own complications and my daughter's diagnosis, and I think I would terminate. I would not have the strength it would require to continue a pregnancy that would result in the death of my newborn.

You guys should google "baby faith hope" after reading her blog I'm not sure I could or would abort. She got to spend a few months with her daughter plus go through her whole pregnancy. I know it's rare for babies with the condition to live for more than a few hours or weeks, but even that chance of having time to spend with my baby would be worth it to me. I'm a firm believer that there is a lesson to be learned in every situation. And IMHO the baby would die anyways, I wouldn't want to terminate before his or her time was truely over.

You guys should google "baby faith hope" after reading her blog I'm not sure I could or would abort. She got to spend a few months with her daughter plus go through her whole pregnancy. I know it's rare for babies with the condition to live for more than a few hours or weeks, but even that chance of having time to spend with my baby would be worth it to me. I'm a firm believer that there is a lesson to be learned in every situation. And IMHO the baby would die anyways, I wouldn't want to terminate before his or her time was truely over.

It would depend on a lot of factors for me. Including how much pain the baby would be in at birth. The baby is going to die in both scenarios though. Having the baby is something I may consider after a lot of deliberation, again, depending on a lot of hypothetical variables. I think there can be a lot of healing in getting to hold your child and being there for it's passing. I support perinatal hospice. I've been through a lot of death though, and I could see that may sound sick to someone else without my background. I guess I'd rather face the death of my child directly than for it to be a phantom that is difficult to mourn. Also, sometimes these prognoses are wrong. My husband had a brother born with Trisomy 13. They didn't know before birth. Everyone in his family is grateful for the three days of his life. It would be very touchy for me with his family to abort, and mixed in are my own feelings against it. I feel I always have to add I'm pro choice.

It would depend on a lot of factors for me. Including how much pain the baby would be in at birth. The baby is going to die in both scenarios though. Having the baby is something I may consider after a lot of deliberation, again, depending on a lot of hypothetical variables. I think there can be a lot of healing in getting to hold your child and being there for it's passing. I support perinatal hospice. I've been through a lot of death though, and I could see that may sound sick to someone else without my background. I guess I'd rather face the death of my child directly than for it to be a phantom that is difficult to mourn. Also, sometimes these prognoses are wrong. My husband had a brother born with Trisomy 13. They didn't know before birth. Everyone in his family is grateful for the three days of his life. It would be very touchy for me with his family to abort, and mixed in are my own feelings against it. I feel I always have to add I'm pro choice.

You ladies are allowed to see it that way, but you weren't in her position. She felt she was making the best decision for herself and her child. She also had a very strong faith in God and is a religious person. I imagine her beliefs played a huge part in her journey. It's beyond heart breaking, and until one personally goes through it, I don't know that they can say what they would do. We might think we know, or have an idea of what we would want, but often times people's views change once they are put in the situation.

You ladies are allowed to see it that way, but you weren't in her position. She felt she was making the best decision for herself and her child. She also had a very strong faith in God and is a religious person. I imagine her beliefs played a huge part in her journey. It's beyond heart breaking, and until one personally goes through it, I don't know that they can say what they would do. We might think we know, or have an idea of what we would want, but often times people's views change once they are put in the situation.

I think it's a choice a lot of non religious people could make too. If it's between a late term abortion and birth, I would have a hard time choosing for my child to die without me there for them, and I'm not religious. I would have to decide if an abortion really would be a better death. Often those abortions involve induction anyway. Those babies are still born.

I think it's a choice a lot of non religious people could make too. If it's between a late term abortion and birth, I would have a hard time choosing for my child to die without me there for them, and I'm not religious. I would have to decide if an abortion really would be a better death. Often those abortions involve induction anyway. Those babies are still born.

If it were possible for the baby to live for at least a few days, I probably wouldn't want to terminate. However, I don't think anyone can know for sure what they'd do until they're actually put in this terrible situation. I don't know much about this particular condition, but I know with other fatal conditions there is a choice in between termination and carrying the baby to term. Parents may also be offered the choice to induce labor earlier than full term (maybe around 20 weeks or so). Then they don't have to wait 40 weeks for the inevitable, but they still get a chance to hold their baby and say goodbye. None of the options are good ones when you learn your baby's condition is incompatible with life.

If it were possible for the baby to live for at least a few days, I probably wouldn't want to terminate. However, I don't think anyone can know for sure what they'd do until they're actually put in this terrible situation. I don't know much about this particular condition, but I know with other fatal conditions there is a choice in between termination and carrying the baby to term. Parents may also be offered the choice to induce labor earlier than full term (maybe around 20 weeks or so). Then they don't have to wait 40 weeks for the inevitable, but they still get a chance to hold their baby and say goodbye. None of the options are good ones when you learn your baby's condition is incompatible with life.

I'm not religious either. I just meant that her faith played a roll in her choice. Just as my beliefs would dictate my choice if I were in the same position. I don't know which route I would go. Late term abortions are cruel (in my opinion) so I really don't know what I would do.

I'm not religious either. I just meant that her faith played a roll in her choice. Just as my beliefs would dictate my choice if I were in the same position. I don't know which route I would go. Late term abortions are cruel (in my opinion) so I really don't know what I would do.

My first reactions that I would abort, but I can't possibly say for sure unless I'm in that situation. I had a friend whose baby was diagnosed w anencephaly and she chose to terminate the pregnancy. She was 17 at the time.

My first reactions that I would abort, but I can't possibly say for sure unless I'm in that situation. I had a friend whose baby was diagnosed w anencephaly and she chose to terminate the pregnancy. She was 17 at the time.

I'd carry to term. By the time they find out about this, the only way they can abort is to dismantle and remove the baby. No way would I do that to my child, not a chance. I also think that I'd like to have a funeral and grave for my child.

I'd carry to term. By the time they find out about this, the only way they can abort is to dismantle and remove the baby. No way would I do that to my child, not a chance. I also think that I'd like to have a funeral and grave for my child.

It's really hard to say since I have never been in that position, but I'm pretty sure I would abort. I couldn't go through an entire pregnancy and get so attached to a child I knew wasn't going to live.

It's really hard to say since I have never been in that position, but I'm pretty sure I would abort. I couldn't go through an entire pregnancy and get so attached to a child I knew wasn't going to live.

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